The Western Lacrosse Association final is now a best-of-three series.
The Langley Thunder opened up a four-goal first-period lead and then managed to stave off the regular season champion New Westminster Salmonbellies the rest of the way to even the series following an 8-6 win at the Langley Events Centre on Tuesday.
Langley took an early 2-0 lead and then former 'Bellies Alex Turner and Athan Iannucci potted goals less than a minute apart before Jordan McBride scored on a setup from his Stony Brook University connection Kevin Crowley, who earned his fourth consecutive game star in the finals after a four-point outing for New Westminster.
The Salmonbellies drew to within a single goal on four separate occasions during the contest but could not manage an equalizer.
Jeff Zywicki brought the 'Bellies' deficit to 7-6 with an unassisted goal in the final two minutes, but Langley defender Rob Van Beek counted an empty-net goal a minute later to seal the Thunder's second win of the series.
Salmonbellies head coach Ken Thomas said home floor has been a big advantage for both teams during the regular season.
If it continues, the B.C. final would come down to a winner-take-all in a seventh game scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29 at Queen's Park.
On Tuesday, New Westminster outshot the Thunder by its widest margin of the series so far, but were stymied by Langley's rookie of the year keeper Brodie MacDonald, who garnered the game's first star with 43 saves, while facing a total of 38 shots in the final two periods.
Tyler Richards stopped just 24 Langley shots, giving up three goals in the final period on just nine shots on goal.
Thomas expects more exciting lacrosse in the series.
"They've all been tightly fought games," Thomas said. "They've all been good games - good to watch."
Game 5 is at Queen's Park Arena on Thursday. Game time is 7:45 p.m.
